Larchmont Elementary

Larchmont Elementary is a PK–5 school in Norfolk, VA, serving 455 students within Norfolk City Public Schools. Larchmont stands out as one of the highest-performing elementary schools in the area, earning a 4-star SchoolDigger rating and ranking 293rd out of 1,111 Virginia elementary schools (74th percentile statewide)—a notable achievement given that the district overall ranks in the bottom 15% of Virginia districts. Among nearby schools, only Ghent K-8 ranks higher; Larchmont outperforms most of its geographic neighbors by 10 to 70 percentile points, including Walter Herron Taylor, Camp Allen, Sewells Point, and Suburban Park.

Academically, Larchmont students score well above district averages on Virginia's SOL assessments. In 3rd grade math, 86.4% of students are proficient versus 58.4% districtwide; in 4th grade reading, the gap is 88.9% versus 62.9%. Reading and 5th grade science are particular strengths, while math proficiency dips somewhat by 5th grade (73.7% vs. 72.4% statewide). The school also has low chronic absenteeism at 8.9%—roughly half the district rate—and only Camp Allen, Ghent K-8, and James Monroe have lower rates among nearby schools.

Remarkably, Larchmont achieves these results while spending the least per student ($8,302) among its neighboring schools and maintaining the largest average class size (16.2:1). Subgroup rankings show the school is exceptionally strong for White students (95th–99th percentile) and military-connected students (94th percentile), while African American and low-income students perform closer to the statewide median—an indication that the school has room to grow in serving all students equally. Though Larchmont has slipped from its elite top-5% status a decade ago, it remains a consistently strong, top-quartile school and a clear standout within Norfolk City Public Schools.